Instead of 82 games, every team is in a 48-game regular-season sprint to determine playoff seedings.

Instead of planning for the long haul, teams are out to get as many early-season points as possible so they don't fall victim to the dreaded three-point games that regularly keep teams from making late rallies to earn playoff positions.

But in some ways, this season is like many others because there are lots of surprises.

Last year, the St. Louis Blues went from also-ran to Western Conference power and the Los Angeles Kings became the first No. 8 seed to capture the Stanley Cup.

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens finished the 2011-12 season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

The Canadiens cleaned house and brought in new general manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Michel Therrien to turn the team around.

So far, so good for Les Glorieux.

The Canadiens have reeled off four consecutive victories following their season-opening loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and are right on the heels of the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators in the Northeast Division. While they will have to play without star forward Max Pacioretty for the next three to four weeks as a result of an appendectomy (source: CBSSports.com), they are getting defenseman P.K. Subban back in the lineup.

The Canadiens have gotten a lift from defensemen Andrei Markov and Raphael Diaz, who have both scored seven points to lead the team. Rookie center Alex Galchenyuk has five points, is at a plus-five and has become a fan favorite.

Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks

One of the primary reasons that the San Jose Sharks have been so powerful at the start of the season is the amazing start of Patrick Marleau.

Marleau scored at least two goals in each of the first four games of the season, equaling the mark set by Cy Denneny in 1917-18 (source: USAToday.com).

Anytime you can tie a record set 95 years earlier, you should know you have done something special.

Marleau only scored one goal in the Sharks' fifth game of the season and he was held off the goal sheet in the sixth game. He has nine goals and five assists through the first six games and is at a plus-five.

The Sharks veteran is connecting on 33.3 percent of his shots so far and is on his way to a memorable season.

Craig Anderson, Ottawa

Martin Brodeur, Jaroslav Halak, Tuukka Rask and Corey Crawford have all gotten off to excellent starts in goal.

However, no NHL goalie has been better than Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators.

Anderson is 4-0-1 in his first five games and has a 0.98 goals against average and a .967 save percentage.

Anytime your GAA begins with a zero, you are doing a sensational job in the net.

Anderson has had some decent years in the NHL. He had a 2.84 GAA and a .914 save percentage last season as the Senators became one of the surprise teams in the NHL and made the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 8 seed.